Security Threat: Fashola Gives Abandoned Vehicle Owners Ultimatum

The security threat across the country has made Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State issue a 14-day ultimatum to civil servants to evacuate all abandoned vehicles within government premises.

Security reports at the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa and the Old Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria by the police revealed that the parking of staff vehicles at government premises over the weekend and abandoned vehicles constituted security breach, especially as bombings by the dreaded Boko Haram have skyrocketed in Nigeria.

The unfavourable security reports had made Fashola to order the Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe, to issue terse circular giving workers 14-ultimatum to remove their abandoned vehicles from the secretariats or they would be towed to avert breach of security at the two secretariats.

The government also frowned at cases whereby private vehicle owners now use government official plate numbers in connivance with some unscrupulous government staff in a bid to make quick money.

As a result, the state government has introduced new letter codes on official number plates and will soon commence the re-registration of all vehicles attached to ministries, departments and agencies.

“In consideration of the recent spate of bombing and threats to public infrastructure, there is need to re-emphasise and sensitise public servants on security consciousness.

“Suffice to say that, the report emanating from the routine patrol of the Old and New Secretariats by Rapid Response Squad, RRS, has indicated that some members of staff, their relations and friends have cultivated the habit of turning the secretariat into a garage for parking their vehicles, particularly during the weekends and public holidays. All these, if unchecked, may serve as safe havens for evil minded people,” says Ogunlewe in a circular.

“In the same vein, it has also been reported that all categories of vehicles  have been found to be abandoned at various car parks within the Old and New Secretariat.  These vehicles constitute public nuisance within the environment. Hence, there is need to curb this practice for security purposes,” he added.

“Also, there are private owned vehicles that carry Lagos State Government official plate numbers. This is in deed a serious criminal act. It is disheartening that some public servants engage in this act which causes embarrassment to the state government when such vehicles are involved in traffic offences.

“Faulty government vehicles, some with government plate numbers and some without, but with the inscription of names of ministries, parastatals and departments that own them are usually found abandoned within the Old and New Secretariat complex. Consequent upon the foregoing, it is hereby re-emphasied that officers should desist from affixing government plate numbers to their private vehicles,” he stated.

“Furthermore, MDAs are hereby advised to repair faulty vehicles or forward the list of such vehicles to the Public Service Office for consideration for boarding or assigning them to other agencies that can properly maintain them and put them to beneficial use,” he added.

To tighten up security, Ogunlewe said “abandonment of unserviceable vehicles within secretariat, either during the week days, weekends or public holidays will no longer be tolerated. MDAs and individuals are hereby given a 14-day ultimatum to remove all abandoned unserviceable vehicles from the secretariat complex. At the end of this ultimatum, such vehicles will be towed away by security personnel.”

The HOS added that all government officials coming into the secretariat during public holidays and weekends should henceforth be introduced and be identified in writing with a photocopy of identity card of the recipient affixed to the letter.

The circular further said that executive council members and permanent secretaries were enjoined to identify themselves at the gate as most security men at the gate might not be able to identify them due to frequent change of portfolios.

“With the cooperation, understanding and assistance of all and sundry in the implementation of the above security measures along with the already existing ones and those that would be introduced from time to time as situation arises, lives and properties within the Old and New Secretariats will be better protected and guaranteed,” it stated.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga